Listing broker wants tax returns to present offer

it may be the seller that is demanding this through their hired broker. Happened to me before. Especially if this seller had a bad experience in the past, or a past turn down. Are they only looking to confirm the AGI?

no

I don't know why they're asking for this; they didn't state a reason. My buyer's broker is well-known and very responsible, my mortgage broker likewise, and I work in a pretty public industry so the listing broker need only google my name to verify my history. I'm certainly not comfortable handing over a complete ID theft kit to someone that doesn't have any fiduciary responsibility towards me.

Then don't.

meet them halfway..tell them you will provide what they want within 10 minutes of a signed contract.....also, tell the broker, you'll slap her on the ass if she likes, usually they do!

A prudent move - why go through 3-4 months of "down time" just to find out the purchaser does not qualify for a mortgage. A "pre qual" letter is not as fool proof as tax return data. If it is so inexpensive, just pay "all cash", and you can then present 2 years of tax returns to the coop board.

id offer to provide the tax return subject to an accepted offer--all will see your rtns ultimately if deal goes through--unlikely seller wants your info for any reason other than that they dont want to waste time with someone who is misrepresenting their fin'l position

i agree it's not typical, and annoying; but if you like the place, whatever

Wbottom, I'd have no problem if we were at the point of having an accepted offer; I can certainly understand the need to verify everything before going to contract. But we're not there yet.

Start with providing your last six pay stubs and have them run a credit check at your expense.

Why not offer to show them the tax returns, but not allow them to take a copy? Or provide only a redacted copy?

for the seller to consider your offer and even verbally accept it exposes them to nothing--if you assure you will show them your tax returns immediately upon accepting offer, they should be pleased--theyre not taking the apt off the market just bc theyre negotiating with you, even if they accept your offer

idiots

Get yourself a copy of turbo tax, make up some numbers, insert them, print out and give them to the broker.

I would say something is funny about your income -- for example, maybe you're self-employed or have recently been involved in a lawsuit -- but you seem to have ruled that out already.

So most probably a stalling tactic on part of the listing broker, to keep talks with you open while they negotiate another offer. Tell them it will take a few days to get the returns from your accountant, but meanwhile stick a shorter time limit on your offer and see what they say.

ali r.
DG Neary Realty